The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons are available now for Nintendo Switch Online members via the free Game Boy app!

These two classic titles precede GBA’s The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, which is already available on the service.

Loved by fans but frequently flying under the radar in the Zelda series, these entries released on the Game Boy Color in 2001. Each game has unique features, such as travelling between the present-day and the past in Ages, and Oracle of Seasons boasting environment changes based on the season!

In the first and only time for the Zelda series, both titles released simultaneously, no doubt inspired by the then popular dual release of Pokémon Red and Blue, and progress made in one game can be carried over to the next via an in-game password function.

Interestingly for Zelda titles, these two were created by Capcom, but more specifically by developer Flagship, a partnership funded in 1997 between Capcom, Nintendo and SEGA. Given such a broad partnership, they were responsible for a wide range of games such as Resident Evil 2 for the PlayStation, Clock Tower 3 for the PS2 and Resident Evil 4 for the GameCube.

Not only did Flagship span various consoles with their releases, they also had their finger in plenty of other first-party Nintendo pies, developing the aforementioned Minish Cap, but also the GBA’s Legend of Zelda Link to the Past and Four Swords, as well as Kirby and the Amazing Mirror.

The developer Flagship was dissolved in 2007 with most staff moving to other Capcom teams, but the director of both Seasons games and Minish Cap, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, would go on to work at Nintendo, and would then direct Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom!

Here’s the full description and trailer from Nintendo:

Ever since The Legend of Zelda was released for the original NES in 1986, the Zelda series has earned a reputation for delivering innovative action-packed gameplay mixed with engrossing storylines and unforgettable characters. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, originally released for Game Boy Color in 2001, build on this excellent reputation and add even more mind-bending gameplay elements to the mix.

Each game presents a unique adventure for Link to conquer, but by tackling both, players can get even more out of the experience. By completing one of the games, players earn a password that they can enter into the second game. Entering the password means the main character will carry over the same name given to him in the first game, and will also begin the game with more items than in the first quest. On top of that, characters encountered in the first adventure will return to make cool cameos. At the end of the second adventure, prepare to face an additional boss battle, which would not occur without completion of the first game.

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons takes place in the troubled land of Holodrum. After magically transporting to this new world, Link witnesses a power-hungry general named Onox summon a mighty storm and kidnap the Oracle of Seasons – a beautiful dancer named Din. Onox uses Din's power to hurl the forces of nature into chaos, so it's up to Link to once again restore peace to the land. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons is full of classic Zelda challenges and gameplay. Link must travel around a vast overworld collecting clues and items, and explore challenging dungeons filled with fierce monsters and maddening puzzles.

There are plenty of new challenges awaiting players as well. Using the Rod of Seasons, Link has the ability to change the seasons whenever he pleases. The landscape changes depending on the season, which provides the premise for many perplexing puzzles. If a river blocks your path in the summer, for example, you can summon the winter months and freeze the waterway to ensure a safe passage.

Link also meets some powerful friends in Holodrum who help him in a variety of ways. A winged polar bear named Moosh can help Link attack enemies with a powerful ground-pounding blow, or Link can ride a friendly Dodongo named Dimitri across deep bodies of water. When Link hops in the pouch of a boxing kangaroo named Ricky, he can K.O. his enemies with a few quick jabs. Link's escapade offers gamers great gameplay, an engrossing storyline and detailed graphics.

Whether you're a long-time fan of The Legend of Zelda or a newcomer to the series, you're sure to spend many hugely rewarding hours helping Link restore order to Holodrum.

• Enjoy classic Zelda gameplay packed with mind-bending dungeons and thrilling action

• Wield the Rod of Seasons to change the seasons, solve puzzles and access new areas

• Complete this game and gain a special password to continue your adventure in The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages

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